The most fundamental task of a mother and father is to show God to the children. Children know their parents before they know God. This is a huge responsibility and should cause every parent to be desperate for God-like transformation. ---STOP-----
The rest of the brief post is great, read it here... but
Desperate for God-like transformation... that is what I am (objectively) and what--from desire standpoint-- I am so little of the time. Yet, as my children grow... so does my understanding of how much I NEED TO BE TRANSFORMED. Et toi?
Monday, April 28, 2008
Using the Bible to Keep Your Heart Near God
That will be the theme of my message Sunday.
A thousand interesting things compete for our attention to the Word of God. I confess that after fifty years of loving and reading and memorizing Scripture, I can be lured away from... the Word by something as insignificant as a new computer device. The illusory pleasure of newness can temporarily trump the far superior benefits of .... the Word of God. -- John Piper
A thousand interesting things compete for our attention to the Word of God. I confess that after fifty years of loving and reading and memorizing Scripture, I can be lured away from... the Word by something as insignificant as a new computer device. The illusory pleasure of newness can temporarily trump the far superior benefits of .... the Word of God. -- John Piper
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
Moving From Burden to Blessing
Our staff tries to regularly "get out of the office" to get some work done... for multiple reasons. One of those is the opportunity to bump into normal folks and perhaps put our ear to the ground.
Today I had a wonderful 5 minute discussion with a business owner in Tioga who said, "I'm sorry to see that you guys are building a church there. Gainesville already has plenty of churches."
The details of our talk are inconsequential, really (to quote Dr. Evil).... suffice it to say that it was envisioning for me to pray (and then work towards) the day that Christ Community might be such a blessing to the entire community that this person would say, "I am glad you guys are in the neighborhood. What would we do without you?"
Today I had a wonderful 5 minute discussion with a business owner in Tioga who said, "I'm sorry to see that you guys are building a church there. Gainesville already has plenty of churches."
The details of our talk are inconsequential, really (to quote Dr. Evil).... suffice it to say that it was envisioning for me to pray (and then work towards) the day that Christ Community might be such a blessing to the entire community that this person would say, "I am glad you guys are in the neighborhood. What would we do without you?"
Here we go....
Yesterday we had a wonderful congregational meeting. You always look for God to help you know where you are on the UNITY front at these meetings... and it couldn't have been more encouraging. So now we move forward... zealously seeking that ground-breaking date!
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Building Info, Who is Who
Building Team of Christ Community Church Kevin Phegley (Chairman), John Gallagher, Frank Matthews, Brad Patterson, Brian Schackow, Sharon Stankunas, Ronnie Neder (advisor)
General Contractor: Sonlight Construction of Orlando
Land Engineer: Jay Brown, of Brown & Cullen, Inc
Architect: John & Jud Dickerson of Leesburg
Session of Elders of Christ Community Church
Larry Eubanks, Mike Marshall, Frank Matthews, Rob Pendley, Charlie Staples
General Contractor: Sonlight Construction of Orlando
Land Engineer: Jay Brown, of Brown & Cullen, Inc
Architect: John & Jud Dickerson of Leesburg
Session of Elders of Christ Community Church
Larry Eubanks, Mike Marshall, Frank Matthews, Rob Pendley, Charlie Staples
Corporate Officers
One brief order of business before the congregation on April 27th is the election of corporate officers. Let me say a brief word about this.
Christ Community Church of Gainesville, is a 503c non profit corporation registered with the state of Florida. One of the state requirements for all 503c corporations is the election of officers. Besides satisfying the requirement of the state, the only other duty officers have is the carrying out of the actions of the congregation in business matters.
So, if Christ Community Church votes to enter into a loan agreement with a lending institution, the officers of the corporation would sign on behalf of the corporation. This does NOT mean that they are personally liable for anything. The corporation has entered the agreement, not the officers.
On April 27th you will receive a ballot asking for a yes or no vote on the following:
Do you elect the following regarding corporate officers of Christ Community Church:
Larry Eubanks, President
Mike Marshall, Treasurer
Charlie Staples, Secretary
Christ Community Church of Gainesville, is a 503c non profit corporation registered with the state of Florida. One of the state requirements for all 503c corporations is the election of officers. Besides satisfying the requirement of the state, the only other duty officers have is the carrying out of the actions of the congregation in business matters.
So, if Christ Community Church votes to enter into a loan agreement with a lending institution, the officers of the corporation would sign on behalf of the corporation. This does NOT mean that they are personally liable for anything. The corporation has entered the agreement, not the officers.
On April 27th you will receive a ballot asking for a yes or no vote on the following:
Do you elect the following regarding corporate officers of Christ Community Church:
Larry Eubanks, President
Mike Marshall, Treasurer
Charlie Staples, Secretary
Saturday, April 26, 2008
This is a really old tree... years ago one of the main branches was cut (2 others are still growing)
BUT LOOK at how NEW LIFE is coming out where there was so much deadness....
Who hasn't been there? Needing God to bring supernatural spontaneous new life to dead places we've had: --in our hearts or --in a relationship
BUT LOOK at how NEW LIFE is coming out where there was so much deadness....
Who hasn't been there? Needing God to bring supernatural spontaneous new life to dead places we've had: --in our hearts or --in a relationship
Friday, April 25, 2008
life of the parent of a teen... waiting up
well... while i wait for my son to come home i had a chance to clean out some old stacked up paper... came across John Piper's lecture on John Newton.... man was I grabbed and helped by the one footnote my eyes fell upon... containing these words:
the question: "Why does the Lord permit some of his people to suffer such violent assaults from the powers of darkness" ?
--not to gratify Satan, but
-- to humble and prove His people;
-- to show His children what is in their hearts,
-- to make them truly sensible of their immediate and absolute dependence upon him and
-- to quicken them if to watchfulness and prayer"
He goes on to suggest that another design (of God) of temptation is "for the manifestation of his power, and wisdom, and grace, in supporting the soul under such pressures as are evidently beyond its own strength to sustain"
RP: I read this to mean that God uses our struggles & temptations to show how HE -- and not our wit or strength-- is our sustaining strength. He gets all the glory. I get humbled, and the opportunity to praise and worship my Savior God.
the whole footnote is here
the question: "Why does the Lord permit some of his people to suffer such violent assaults from the powers of darkness" ?
--not to gratify Satan, but
-- to humble and prove His people;
-- to show His children what is in their hearts,
-- to make them truly sensible of their immediate and absolute dependence upon him and
-- to quicken them if to watchfulness and prayer"
He goes on to suggest that another design (of God) of temptation is "for the manifestation of his power, and wisdom, and grace, in supporting the soul under such pressures as are evidently beyond its own strength to sustain"
RP: I read this to mean that God uses our struggles & temptations to show how HE -- and not our wit or strength-- is our sustaining strength. He gets all the glory. I get humbled, and the opportunity to praise and worship my Savior God.
the whole footnote is here
Women's Retreat Raises a Good Issue
At the very lowest level, our Lord's example in Mark 6
he went up on the mountain to pray....
is an encouragement to build seasons of special communion with God into our lives, and to do what we can to help others do so as well.
all you bi-lingual types
This is a tremendous new initiative to seek to resource the Church in lands that have little access to quality Gospel-centered literature... they are looking for help translating
The Summit of Our Wishes
spurgeon is awesome today.... a sample:
I would, if it were possible, have neither eyes, nor ears, nor heart for sin. ...
To come to Thee is to come home from exile, to come to land out of the raging storm, to come to rest after long labour, to come to the goal of my desires and the summit of my wishes. But Lord, how can a stone rise, how can a lump of clay come away from the horrible pit? O raise me, draw me. Thy grace can do it. Send forth Thy Holy Spirit to kindle sacred flames of love in my heart, and I will continue to rise... (whole thing is here)
I would, if it were possible, have neither eyes, nor ears, nor heart for sin. ...
To come to Thee is to come home from exile, to come to land out of the raging storm, to come to rest after long labour, to come to the goal of my desires and the summit of my wishes. But Lord, how can a stone rise, how can a lump of clay come away from the horrible pit? O raise me, draw me. Thy grace can do it. Send forth Thy Holy Spirit to kindle sacred flames of love in my heart, and I will continue to rise... (whole thing is here)
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Look up amid thy sorrow
This week has been an interesting one for me...
-- new areas of repentance
-- clashing into all those hope-filled hymns on Tuesday night at the Indelible Grace concert
-- the variety of things I'm working on (from sermon prep to cong.mtg prep to praying & counseling to blah blah)
-- meeting with friends and hearing their struggles & heartaches and frustrations AND HOPES!
Regardless, i find my heart tender toward God... longing to grow in contentment with Christ.... who knows all there is to know (good & bad; tragic & terrific) of me... and knows all of you too.
O heart bereaved and lonely,
Whose brightest dreams have fled
Whose hopes like summer roses,
Are withered crushed and dead
Though link by link be broken,
And tears unseen may fall
Look up amid thy sorrow,
To Him who knows it all --from the hymn, O Heart Bereaved & Lonely, by Fanny Crosby
-- new areas of repentance
-- clashing into all those hope-filled hymns on Tuesday night at the Indelible Grace concert
-- the variety of things I'm working on (from sermon prep to cong.mtg prep to praying & counseling to blah blah)
-- meeting with friends and hearing their struggles & heartaches and frustrations AND HOPES!
Regardless, i find my heart tender toward God... longing to grow in contentment with Christ.... who knows all there is to know (good & bad; tragic & terrific) of me... and knows all of you too.
O heart bereaved and lonely,
Whose brightest dreams have fled
Whose hopes like summer roses,
Are withered crushed and dead
Though link by link be broken,
And tears unseen may fall
Look up amid thy sorrow,
To Him who knows it all --from the hymn, O Heart Bereaved & Lonely, by Fanny Crosby
Youth Trip this weekend!!! Attn. Parents
Parents... if you don't get an email from Lizette by 2pm today about forms we need BEFORE KIDS CAN GO!!! on the weekend trip... CALL the office 379-4949... they are being made available on the church website and the links will be in Lizette's email
Jesus Wants All of Me
Yesterday I read this little devotion to my children.... from a little re-write of Oswald Chamber's MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST, entitled "Jesus Wants All of Me". It made me think of many people and the situations they are in... perhaps you've had a loved one die, or have friend(s) moving away, etc. Be encouraged that God is the steady & unchanging anchor for our soul.
Good-Bye
I miss my friend. She meant so much to me. She showed me how to be like Jesus. And now she is gone. But God meant for her to go. God doesn't want me to trust in my friend. He wants me to trust in Him.
We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18
Good-Bye
I miss my friend. She meant so much to me. She showed me how to be like Jesus. And now she is gone. But God meant for her to go. God doesn't want me to trust in my friend. He wants me to trust in Him.
We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18
"And because of all this we make a sure covenant."—Nehemiah 9:38
THERE are many occasions in our experience when we may very rightly, and with benefit, renew our covenant with God. After recovery from sickness when, like Hezekiah, we have had a new term of years added to our life, we may fitly do it. After any deliverance from trouble, when our joys bud forth anew, let us again visit the foot of the cross, and renew our consecration. Especially, let us do this after any sin which has grieved the Holy Spirit, or brought dishonour upon the cause of God; let us then look to that blood which can make us whiter than snow, and again offer ourselves unto the Lord. We should not only let our troubles confirm our dedication to God, but our prosperity should do the same.....
this is the day to put our hand upon the horns of the altar, and say, "Bind me here, my God; bind me here with cords, even for ever." Inasmuch as we need the fulfillment of new promises from God, let us offer renewed prayers that our old vows may not be dishonoured. Because of the pains of Jesus, let us this morning make with Him a sure covenant...
Spurgeon, Morning April 24
this is the day to put our hand upon the horns of the altar, and say, "Bind me here, my God; bind me here with cords, even for ever." Inasmuch as we need the fulfillment of new promises from God, let us offer renewed prayers that our old vows may not be dishonoured. Because of the pains of Jesus, let us this morning make with Him a sure covenant...
Spurgeon, Morning April 24
Oh God who comes to me in my need...
This morning Chris Hiatt showed me an old hymn that has that as the opening and recurring line...
and then ends with this hope-filled promise
(You are the One) That makes me see new beauty, after pain.
and then ends with this hope-filled promise
(You are the One) That makes me see new beauty, after pain.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Spurgeon was right on this morning...
We go to Christ for forgiveness, and then too often look to the law for power to fight our sins....
Disciplines are nothing without Christ as a means of mortification. Your prayers, and your repentances, and your tears—the whole of them put together—are worth nothing apart from Him.
"None but Jesus can do helpless sinners good;" or helpless saints either. You must be conquerors through Him who hath loved you, if conquerors at all.
Read the whole paragraph here
Disciplines are nothing without Christ as a means of mortification. Your prayers, and your repentances, and your tears—the whole of them put together—are worth nothing apart from Him.
"None but Jesus can do helpless sinners good;" or helpless saints either. You must be conquerors through Him who hath loved you, if conquerors at all.
Read the whole paragraph here
No swaggering or sniveling
“The Christian gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to died for me, yet I am so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me. This leads to deep humility and deep confidence at the same time. It undermines both swaggering and sniveling. I cannot feel superior to anyone, and yet I have nothing to prove to anyone. I do not think more of myself nor less of myself. Instead, I think of myself less.”
- Timothy Keller, The Reason For God (New York, NY: Dutton, 2008), 181.
The Bruised Reed
One of my heroes is Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, a
“I shall never cease to be grateful to… Richard Sibbes who was balm to my soul at a period in my life when I was overworked and badly overtired, and therefore subject in an unusual manner to the onslaughts of the devil… I found at that time an unfailing remedy… The Bruised Reed… quietened, soothed, comforted, encouraged and healed me.”
It is available online, an easy google… or at amazon for probably 6 bucks
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